Ash have confirmed that new album Twilight Of The Innocents will be their last – but insisted they will continue to release singles in future. A bit like Led Zeppelin in reverse, then.

Frontman Tim Wheeler scotched rumours of a split sparked by a comment made about their ‘last album’ at the Isle Of Wight festival, citing changes in the music industry as the reason behind the band’s decision.

Wheeler says: "The way people listen to music has changed, with the advent of the download the emphasis has reverted to single tracks. It hasn't helped that most people have forgotten how to make a decent album. I'm constantly disappointed with records I buy.”

Does that include the new Ash album, then?

“I believe our new album is the pinnacle of everything we've done thus far, and I'm proud that this will be remembered as our last album.”

Oh alright then.

“The future lies elsewhere and we can have a lot of fun by changing things up. It's like the Wild West at the moment, a time to take chances and try out new ideas.

“When you're tied to the album format, you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it. By leaving this behind we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity. We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it's fresh. We're the first band to do this, but I very much doubt we'll be the last.

“We've been one of the best singles bands of the last two decades and we're still younger than a lot of bands on the current scene. I’m excited to push this claim further by dedicating ourselves wholly to the art of the single for the digital age."

Twilight Of The Innocents is released July 2, and coincides with a string of dates at London's Koko.